You just got a new piercing and you don't know if it's a normal part of the healing process or an infection.You can keep your piercing healthy and looking good if you know how to recognize signs of an infection.Pay attention to pain, swelling, redness, heat, and more serious symptoms and always follow proper techniques to avoid infections.
Step 1: Look for redness that is getting worse.
It is normal for a fresh piercing to be pink after a puncture wound.Redness that gets worse or spreads to a larger area is a sign of possible infections.If your redness is getting worse over a day or two, make a note of it and keep an eye on your piercing.
Step 2: Look for any swelling.
As your body adjusts to what it sees as an injury, the area around your new piercing will likely swell for about 48 hours.Swelling should start to go down after that time.Infections can be caused by swelling, redness and pain after a time of being normal.If your tongue gets swollen, it can cause a loss of function.You could have an infection if the area around your piercing is too swollen to move.
Step 3: Pay attention to pain.
Your body tells you something is wrong with pain.Around the same time that swelling starts to decrease, the original pain from your piercing should be gone.It is normal for this pain to be stinging, burning, or tender.If the pain lasts longer than a couple of days, it could be an indication of an illness.You will probably experience some pain if you accidentally irritate your new piercing.You want to keep an eye out for pain that gets worse or doesn't go away.
Step 4: The area is hot.
With redness, swelling, and pain comes heat.It could be that your piercing is giving off heat or even feeling hot to the touch.If you are going to touch your piercing area, wash your hands first.
Step 5: Look for a discharge.
It is normal for a new piercing to have some clear or straw colored fluid oozing from it.This fluid is part of the healing process.There is a discharge that is either yellow or green.Pus may have an unpleasant smell.It's a good idea to see if a discharge is thick, milky, or colored.See your doctor if you have a problem with your piercing.
Step 6: Consider the age of the piercing.
It takes a day or more for signs of infection to develop after you get pierced.If you have had a piercing for a long time, it is unlikely that you will get an illness from it.Infections in old piercings are possible if there is an injury to the area or a cut in the skin.
Step 7: Take the location of the piercing into account.
If the piercing is in an area prone to infections, you should suspect it more quickly.Ask your piercer how likely your piercing is to get infections.Navel piercings need to be cleaned.They have a higher risk of becoming infections because they are in a warm, sometimes damp location.There is a higher risk of infections with tongue piercings.Infections of the brain can be caused by tongue infections.
Step 8: Your piercing needs to be cleaned.
Your piercer should give you instructions on how to clean your piercing, as well as suggest products to use.Different piercings have different cleaning requirements so get clear instructions.Clean skin piercings should be done with warm water and non-scented antibacterial soap, like Dial.Do not use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on the new piercing.These can damage or irritate the skin.Don't use antibiotic creams or ointments.The piercing cannot breathe because they trap dirt and debris.Your piercer will recommend how often to clean your piercing.Dirt, crust, and dead skin can be caused by under-cleaning.Dry skin can be caused by over-cleaning.They are bad for healing.If you want to coat the jewelry, gently move it or twist it to get the solution inside.This is not true for some types of piercings, so always ask your piercer first.
Step 9: Follow new guidelines.
Taking care of your piercing can help prevent pain and infections.Don't sleep on your new piercing, and follow some guidelines for general piercing care.Getting the area dirty is caused by the jewelry rubbing on your blankets, sheets, or pillows.If you have a facial piercing, try using an airplane support pillow and aligning your piercing with the middle "hole” to sleep on your back.The jewelry should not be removed before the piercing is healed.Doing so will allow the piercing to close up.The infections will be trapped in your skin.Don't let clothes rub onto piercings.Unless you are cleaning your jewelry, do not twist it.Stay out of pools, lakes, rivers, hot tub, and other bodies of water until your piercing heals.
Step 10: You should choose a professional.
Unsterile piercing procedures or improper aftercare can lead to infections in about 1 in 5 piercings.Only a trained piercer and a clean piercing studio can pierce you.If you want to get pierced, you should insist that your piercer show you how and where their equipment is safe to use.When piercing, piercers should only use a new needle out of a sterile package, never reuse a needle, and always wear disposable gloves.A piercing gun isn't appropriate.If you see a gun, leave.To make sure the procedure is sterile, go to a professional.In order to pierce you, someone needs to be licensed and trained.Do not ask a friend to pierce you.
Step 11: Get pierced with jewelry that is non-allergenic.
If you have an allergic reaction to jewelry, it's not the same as getting an infection, but anything that irritates your new piercing increases the risk for infections.If you have an allergy, you could have to remove your jewelry.It's a good idea to get pierced with jewelry that is non-allergenic.Request titanium, niobium, or 14- or 18-karat gold.
Step 12: It takes a long time for a piercing to heal.
There are a lot of places you can get pierced, through different types of tissue.The healing time varies a lot.Know the specifics of your piercing so you know how long you have to take care of it.
Step 13: If you have a mild illness, try a home remedy.
One cup of warm water with table salt, sea salt or Epsom salt in it, should be used for each treatment.If you want to make a compress, soak the piercing and use a clean washcloth.It takes fifteen minutes per session to do this two to three times per day.If you don't see improvement in a few days or if your symptoms get worse, contact your doctor.The entire piercing should be covered with the salt soak on both sides of the hole.Continue to clean the piercing with warm water and soap.If there is an issue with the wound, it is okay to put a small amount of antibiotic on it.
Step 14: If you have problems, call your piercer.
If you notice redness or swelling that doesn't go away, it's a good idea to call your piercer and ask for advice on how to care for it.They can tell you whether the discharge is normal or not if you go in to see them.If a professional pierces you, this applies.If you have any questions, talk to a doctor.
Step 15: If you have a stomach upset, see your doctor.
Infections tend to stay in the area of the piercing.It can result in a serious, even life-threatening, systemic infection if an infection gets into your bloodstream.If you have a severe infection, you can experience a number of symptoms.If you notice swelling, redness, and pain near your piercing, it's time to see your doctor.This could be a sign that the infection is getting worse and moving to larger areas of the body.Your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics for you.If the infection is in your blood, you will have to stay in the hospital and have IV antibiotics.